The Cornerstone of Health
Health professionals have identified the cornerstones of good health. These are:

• Regular, enjoyable exercise.
• A well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables.
• Maintenance of a healthy weight for your height and build.
• Getting enough sleep each night (normally seven to eight hours).
• Having a means to control the stress in your life.

Regular Exercise
Regular, enjoyable exercise has been identified as the most important contributor to good health. An exercise routine should include three types of workout: weight bearing exercise, aerobic activity, and flexibility exercises.

Weight bearing exercise: This involves movements and activities that place resistance on the muscles. Weight lifting routines, walking, running and hiking all cause the muscles to work against resistance. This not only tones the muscles, but also strengthens their support system - the bones and joints. 

Aerobic exercise: Exercises that cause the heart to work harder (and beat faster) are called aerobic. They help keep the cardiovascular system healthy, encourage sleep, and strengthen the immune system.

Flexibility exercises: These include stretches, and routines that employ stretches such as yoga and Pilates. They help keep the body supple and flexible while encouraging strength and balance.

A person is never too young or too old to exercise. Even young babies benefit from gentle stretches. Encourage your family to exercise by planning family routines that involve physical activity.

Eating a Well Balanced Diet
Most nutritionists agree that a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables and low in animal fats, is the healthiest way of eating over the long-term. Eating a varied diet will help ensure that you receive all the vitamins and minerals required for optimal health.

Unfortunately, few people are able to spend the time and energy required to ensure their diet includes all the necessary components. The problem of balance is further compromised by low carbohydrate diets, which restrict or eliminate grains, fruits and many vegetables. If you are on a low carbohydrate regime, it is essential that you take a high quality multi vitamin and mineral supplement.

Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Keeping the pounds from creeping on can help prevent a number of conditions such as osteoarthritis, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Maintaining a healthy weight ties in with the first two cornerstones: exercise and eating a well-balanced diet.

Learning good habits for weight maintenance begin in childhood. If you are a parent, make sure you give your children appropriate sized portions of a wide variety of foods, and encourage physical activity.

Getting Enough Sleep
Getting enough shut-eye is important to the well being of all family members, not just the little ones. During sleep, the body literally replenishes itself in order to face the physical and mental challenges of the day ahead. Of particular significance is the positive effect of sleep on the immune system. When a person does not get enough sleep, the immune system becomes suppressed, making it easier to catch colds and other “bugs.”

Managing Stress
Learning how to cope with the stressors in your life is an important contributor to health and well being. When a person is stressed, the body produces the hormone cortisol. At elevated levels, this hormone has been linked to a number of health conditions including depression and cardiovascular problems.

Stress can affect all members of the family, including children and teens.  It is therefore important that children and teens be encouraged to take part in physical activities that will help reduce stress.

A number of excellent books and courses are available to help you and your family manage stress more productively.

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